Regulated cellular exposure to non-thermal plasma allows preferentially directed apoptosis in acute monocytic leukemia cells.

This research investigated the modulation of cell death through exposure of non-thermal resistive barrier based indirect air plasma on monocytic leukemia cancer cells (THP-1). Specifically, we explored cell death through apoptosis and necrosis, since generally apoptotic cell death has a limited inflammatory response as compared to necrosis. We have demonstrated a preference for apoptosis in plasma treated THP-1 cells, under specific plasma characteristics and dosage levels, using fluorescent dyes conjugated with annexin V followed by identification of the cells through fluorescent microscopy and flowcytometry diagnostics. At much higher plasma dosages, the necrotic morphologies in the THP-1 cells were observed. The presented outcomes in the death morphologies of plasma treated THP-1 cells signify the need for further investigation on the cellular mechanisms induced by the indirect plasma exposure. The results obtained from this research indicate the significant potential for the use of our portable non-thermal resistive barrier based indirect plasma treatment method as an inexpensive and less invasive method for treating leukemia and other cancerous lesions.